Risk of Excessive Boba Consumption (2024)

Health Article

11 Apr 2023

Risk of Excessive Boba Consumption (1)

Boba, or bubble tea, originated in Taiwan in the early 1980s and quickly gained popularity in Asia before spreading around the world. This drink is made from tea, milk, sugar, and chewy balls made from tapioca flour or sweet potatoes called boba. Initially, the drinks were only tea and milk, but tapioca balls were added to give a different and chewy sensation when consumed. Boba is now a popular drink that can be found in many bars around the world.1

Excessive consumption of boba or bubble tea can increase the risk of certain health problems, especially if the drink contains a lot of added sugar.1

Some of the health risks that may occur due to excessive consumption of boba include:1,2,3,4

1. Weight Gain: Bubble tea tends to contain added sugar and high calories from milk, cream, syrup, tapioca balls and other ingredients. If consumed in excess, this drink can lead to excessive weight gain.

2. Digestive Problems: The tapioca used in boba cannot be digested easily by the body. If you consume too much tapioca, could cause the body could not get enough fiber intake. Lack of fiber and other nutrients from healthy foods can cause digestive problems such as constipation.

3. Blood Sugar Rise: Boba drinks that contain a lot of sugar can cause a significant rise in blood sugar. This can be a problem, for people with diabetes or insulin resistance.

4. Dental Caries: The added sugar in boba drinks can damage teeth if consumed regularly without proper dental care.

Having learned about the dangers of excessive intake of boba, it is noteworthy that it also has benefits that can be obtained if consumed reasonably and in moderation, among others:3

1. Energy source: Boba contains carbohydrates and sugars that can provide fast energy to the body.

2. Source of calcium: Milk used in boba drinks is a good source of calcium for bones and teeth.

3. Improves mood: Boba can provide a pleasant drinking experience and improve mood.

4. Lowers stress: Drinking boba can help reduce stress and anxiety due to its delicious taste and chewy sensation of tapioca balls.

5. Source of antioxidants: The tea used in boba drinks contains antioxidants that are good for the health of the body.

However, it is important to remember that since boba has a high content of sugars and calories, excessive intake can negatively affect your health. Always consume low sugar boba drinks with fewer toppings and pay attention to the health of your entire body by maintaining a balanced diet and exercising adequately.3,4

References :

  1. Sade Meeks, MS, RD. What Is The Nutritional Value of Boba?. Last reviewed June 22, 2022. Available on:

https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/nutritional-value-of-boba

  1. Rizal Fadli . Beware, 5 Dangers of Frequent Consumption of Boba Drinks. halodoc. Last reviewed June 24, 2021. Available on:

https://www.halodoc.com/artikel/waspada-5-bahaya-sering-konsumsi-minuman-boba

  1. Kathleen M. Zelman. Boba Tea: Are There Health Benefits? Last reviewed November 10, 2022. Available on:

https://www.webmd.com/diet/boba-tea-health-benefits

  1. Yusra Firdaus. What are the Dangers of Boba in Sugary Drinks? HelloSehat. Last reviewed: January 25, 2023. Available on:

https://hellosehat.com/nutrisi/fakta-gizi/bahaya-boba/

Risk of Excessive Boba Consumption (2024)

FAQs

Risk of Excessive Boba Consumption? ›

Health risks from drinking too much bubble tea

What happens if you drink too much boba? ›

The beverage is usually high in sugar and calories and contains an additive that might lead to constipation. Drinking too much boba tea may increase your risk of diabetes and obesity. You might reduce your risk of constipation by drinking plenty of water. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.

How often is it OK to have boba? ›

"One to two cups a day should be fine, but you shouldn't consume anything in excess," Dr. Kushnir advises. "If you're drinking five or six cups a day, and you're noticing a change in your bowels, it could be sign that you need to cut back or drink more water.

Why am I addicted to boba? ›

After consuming sugar-containing food, the sugar rush can make you feel good and happy. Studies showed that when you eat sugar, the brain will release endorphins such as dopamine (the feel-good hormone) and make you feel satisfied, and signal you to quickly finish up this cup of bubble tea!

How much boba is healthy? ›

The boba bottom line

Just keep in mind, it doesn't offer much in the way of nutritional benefits. Indulge in moderation when you feel like a treat and if you don't have any allergies or intolerances to the ingredients. If you're looking for something with proven health benefits, drink a cup of green or black tea.

Is it OK to swallow boba whole? ›

In fact, it's important to remember that you should always chew the pearls in bubble tea before swallowing them. This largely comes down to the fact that whole pearls are more difficult and can take longer for your stomach to digest.

Is eating too much tapioca bad for you? ›

Tapioca starch has a high glycemic index. That means it can cause a quick spike in your insulin and blood sugar, and should be eaten in moderate amounts. Some popular tapioca items, such as tapioca pudding and boba tea, are often high in added sugars as well.

Is it OK to drink Boba the next day? ›

Bubble tea can stay in the fridge for at least 24 hours and we strongly recommend you consume all of the tea within this time. Whilst consuming after 24 hours is unlikely to cause any health risk, the tea may well have lost much of its flavour by this point. Don't forget to store your bubble tea on the top shelf.

What is popping boba made of? ›

The ingredients for popping bubbles consist of water, sugar, fruit juice, sugar, calcium lactate, seaweed extract, malic acid, potassium sorbate, artificial colouring and seaweed extracts which form the outer shell.

Is too much popping boba bad for you? ›

One of the main concerns with popping boba is its high sugar content. Popping boba is made with a combination of sugar and cornstarch, which makes it very high in calories. Consuming too much sugar can lead to weight gain, obesity, and other health problems such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

What can boba do to your body? ›

Potential Risks of Boba Tea

The amount of sugar you drink along with your boba tea can pose potential risks. Consuming high levels of sugar has been linked to serious health complications like obesity, cardiovascular disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cognitive decline, and some forms of cancer.

Is boba linked to depression? ›

Results: After adjusting for potential confounding factors, high frequency of bubble tea consumption was observed to be significantly associated with high risk for depression in the regression model (p for trend = 0.045); no significant association was found with anxiety (p for trend = 0.332).

How to stop boba cravings? ›

GOING COLD TURKEY

This is a common way to break any addiction. Total abstinence of sweetened beverages may be too extreme and challenging for some but may work for others. For those who wish to do so, having an accountability partner may increase your chance of success.

How often is too much bubble tea? ›

Considering that people are supposed to have no more than 25–35 grams of sugar per day, odds are a single serving of boba with full sugar along with all the other things you eat in a day will tip you over the maximum recommended level. Having that much sugar on a regular basis is not good for you.

Is boba or soda healthier? ›

That cup of fresh fruit juice could contain as much sugar as a soft drink. For instance, a 500ml cup of brown sugar boba milk can contain about 92g of sugar, about three times more than the amount of sugar in a 320ml can of Coca-Cola.

What is the healthiest boba topping? ›

  • Aloe Vera. Aloe vera is known for its magic at giving us beautiful skin. Add aloe vera to your favorite bubble tea drink to provide your body with hydration, improved digestion, and improved liver function. LOVE ET!
  • Grass Jelly. This topping varies in color: white, green, black. It's jelly like and it's refreshing!

How does boba affect the body? ›

Unfortunately, boba itself provides very few health benefits, though its calories and carbohydrates can provide you with a boost in energy. In most cases, boba tea contains high levels of sugar, which is linked to long-term health conditions like diabetes and obesity.

How much milk tea is too much? ›

Milk Tea contains caffeine which affects the sleep cycle. Caffeine causes you to be active and boosts your energy. It is believed that more than 2 cups of tea a day can interrupt your sleep cycle.

How many boba pearls are in one drink? ›

For example, some bubble tea shops serve 1/4 cup of tapioca pearls with drinks, compared to other stores that use 1/3 cup of pearls with drinks. The amount of pearls used in every cup is based on who is preparing the drink.

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